LEXINGTON, Ky. — Heartbreak and despair were shared equally among 5,000 fans at The Stables Sunday evening as Lexington Sporting Club was eliminated from the playoffs in penalty kicks by Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. Both clubs tallied a goal from the penalty spot in the run of play before the Switchbacks outlasted the Greens from the very same spot after 120 minutes, 5-4.
The Western Conference Quarterfinal match was vicious throughout as both sides were fighting for their lives from the very start. Pushing and shoving was incessant and the referee whistled for 43 fouls in the match, two of which inside the box, starting in Lexington’s favor in the 12’ minute.
Xavier Zengue cut inside from his position on the right flank. The fullback made a brilliant move to get past his defender, forcing his defender to lunge through Zengue and bring him down inside the box. Phillip Goodrum approached the spot to take the attempt and hammered his shot left while the keeper dove right.
The goal marked the second of the prolific scorer’s USL Championship postseason career and his first since the 2022 season with Memphis 901 FC.
An injury to Xavier Zengue forced head coach Mac Hemmi to go to the bench right before halftime and make adjustments on both sides of the ball for the Greens.
Colorado Springs was the beneficiary of the second penalty kick, awarded in the 78’ minute, to equalize and force 30 extra minutes of soccer.
After two hours of all-out war, the two sides entered a penalty shootout to decide the victor. Both clubs matched one another through four takes apiece, but after the Switchbacks converted their fifth attempt, Lexington’s sudden-death rebuttal was parried away by the opposing keeper to curtail the Greens’ inaugural playoff run.
“I think sports are cruel,” head coach Mac Hemmi told the media after the match. “Losing in PK’s is a tough pill to swallow. I think the guys fought the entire game. I am proud of them. We wanted to get a home playoff match, and I am happy we made progress as an organization. We have to take some time off and then come back ready to go. Remembering this moment and this feeling is important for us to be better next year.”
GOALS
12’ LEX: Phillip Goodrum (PK)
78’ COS: Khori Bennett (PK)
PK
COS: Juan Tejada (MAKE)
LEX: Aaron Molloy (MAKE)
COS: Yosuke Hanya (MAKE)
LEX: Braudílio Rodrigues (MAKE)
COS: Elvis Amoh (MAKE)
LEX: Phillip Goodrum (MAKE)
COS: Talen Maples (MAKE)
LEX: Marcus Epps (MAKE)
COS: Khori Bennett (MAKE)
LEX: Noble Okello (MISS)
LINEUPS
LEX: Oliver Semmle, Jacob Greene, Javain Brown, Kendall Burks, Xavier Zengue (43’ Marqes Muir), Blaine Ferri (79’ Cielo Tschantret), Aaron Molloy, Nick Firmino (62’ Noble Okello), Marcus Epps, Malcolm Fry (62’ Braudílio Rodrigues), Phillip Goodrum
COS: Christian Herrera, Isaiah Foster (105’ Duke Lacroix), Matt Mahoney, Talen Maples, Aidan Rocha (62’ Sadam Masereka), Sam Williams (71’ Steven Echevarria), Bryce Jamison (79’ Yosuke Hanya), Brennan Creek, Frank Daroma (71’ Juan Tejada), Adrien Pérez (100’ Elvis Amoh), Khori Bennett
